pacemaker

[pās′māk′ər]

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noun

The definition of the pacemaker is a small device used in medicine to regulate the beating of a heart.

Facts About the Pacemaker

In 1926, Dr. Mark Lidwell, along with Edgar Booth, invented a portable device that could plug into a lighting point and the other half of the device could be plug into the corresponding cardiac chamber.

Albert Hyman created his own version of the pacemaker in 1932. His device was powered by a spring-wound, hand-cranked motor.

In 1950, John Hopps then built the first external pacemaker.

In 1957, Earl Bakken created the first wearable external pacemaker.

In 1958, the completely implantable pacemaker was inserted into an individual in Sweden. Unfortunately, the device was not successful and failed after three hours. The patient, Arne Larsson, received over twenty different pacemakers in his lifespan.

In 1971, isotopes were replaced with lithium anode cells. The creation of a titanium metal encasement for the pacemaker was the final major breakthrough in the field.

An example of the pacemaker is a small device that is implanted in the chest that uses electrical impulses to regulate the heart beat.

pacemaker

noun

a runner, horse, automobile, etc. that sets the pace for others, as in a race

a person, group, or thing that leads the way or serves as a model

Anat.

a dense network of interwoven, specialized muscle fibers in the right atrium of the heart that controls the rhythm of the electrical impulses that cause the heartbeat

any of several body parts that control the rhythm of a biological activity, as an area in the stomach that controls stomach contractions

Med. an electronic device implanted into the body and connected to the wall of the heart, designed to provide regular, mild, electric shock that stimulates contraction of the heart muscles and restores normalcy to the heartbeat